Slovenia is a middle European country characterized by an extremely diverse composition of climatic areas, geography and soils. There is wide variation both for temperature and for precipitation. Total agricultural land is 508,759 hectares, for which cereals, potatoes and vegetables occupy the major part.

Five institutions carry out plant breeding activities in the Republic of Slovenia. Two of them belong to the University of Ljubljana and Maribor, two are research institutes and one is a private seed company. Total budget spent for all plant breeding projects for the five institutions in 2007 was about 400.000 Euros (Similar financial situation was reported for the previous years). Investment by the private sector is minimal and governmentally allocated funds are severely limited.Five institutions carry out plant breeding activities in the Republic of Slovenia. Two of them belong to the University of Ljubljana and Maribor, two are research institutes and one is a private seed company. Total budget spent for all plant breeding projects for the five institutions in 2007 was about 400.000 Euros (Similar financial situation was reported for the previous years). Investment by the private sector is minimal and governmentally allocated funds are severely limited.

Most resources were allocated for the plant breeding activities for potato at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (AIS) and for hop breeding activities at SIHRB. The main source of germplasm used in breeding programmes is the national germplasm bank which consists of farmers’ material (old populations) or some cultivar collections.

Bearing in mind the major soil and climatic variability of Slovenia, plant breeding efforts need to be performed locally, or at least selections should be tested in several locations prior to release attempts.

Research and education institutes with activities in plant breeding

Public Institutes

	Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (AIS) Website in English, German or Slovenian Agricultural Institute of Slovenia is a public research institution founded in 1898. Its present founder is the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. The status of a public research institution implies a governmental non-profit making institution with defined activities in the sense of public service. It has been involved in plant breeding for 67 years and in plant biotechnology for 20 years.
	Institute of Hop Research and Brewing Website in English or Slovenian This institute is a public sector institution, which was established in 1952 by the hop growers from that time as an institute for hop research. The principal research is centered on plant  breeding, agricultural technology, physiology, nutrition, the protection of hops against diseases and pests, and the related prognosis and signs of diseases and pests, as well as the application of chemical solutions used for the protection of plants and information management.
	Agronomy Department of Biotechnical Faculty (University of Ljubljana) Website in Slovenian The Agronomy Department of Biotechnical Faculty is a public sector research institution which has been involved in plant breeding for 55 years and in plant technology for 20 years. The Department works on wheat, maize, other small grains, forages, vegetables and fruits.
	Faculty of Agriculture (University of Maribor) Website in English or Slovenian The Faculty of Agriculture of the university is a part of the public sector. They have been involved in plant breeding for 12 years and in plant biotechnology for 7 years.

Private Institute

SEMENARNA Ljubljana Website in English, Italian or Slovenian SEMENARNA Ljubljana is a seed company, organised according to European standards. It is a private company which has been involved in plant breeding for 92 years and in plant biotechnology for 12 years.

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Information by Borut Bohanec (2008).- Information based on the Slovenia's full report from the PBBC survey. Last revised 20-06-2010, GIPB.